The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has confirmed that despite some cancellations, many meetings and events are still taking place across the country following the heavy floods impacting Bangkok and surrounding areas.

TCEB said today that meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions business is “operating actively” in Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and other destinations around the country. The Asia Pacific Gulf Summit 2011, held in Pattaya from Oct 31 October to 6 November  took place unaffected and later this month groups from Nokia, Amway and Daikin will all be taking part in events as planned in various destination in Thailand.

However, the floods – which are the worst to hit the country in 50 years – have impacted 14 MICE events, mostly trade shows planned to be held in and around Bangkok this quarter, with revenue losses estimated at 2.98bn baht and a MICE visitors shortfall estimated at 96,000.

TCEB said that most of Thailand's international airports are still operating normally, including Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok's main international gateway. One airport, Don Mueang, located in the northern area of the capital and mostly used for domestic flights, has been closed since last week due to the floods.

“The variety of destinations Thailand has to offer helps mitigate the impact of the floods affecting the Bangkok area,” said Akapol Sorasuchart, president of TCEB.

“Also, thanks to steps we are taking with the cooperation from the industry, we expect that Thailand's MICE business will remain stable for the entire fiscal 2012 as most events affected by the situation have been rescheduled to next quarter.”

In the fiscal year for 2011 - which ended 30 September -  Thailand's meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions sector attracted 720,000 business travellers and generated 57.6bn baht in revenue, compared respectively to 679,585 travellers and 55bn baht in 2010.

Pictured: Akapol Sorasuchart